Kenyan Government Introduces Branded Unga, 2Kg Pack to Retail at Sh90

In a new move to reduce the high prices of maize flour in the country, the government has stepped in and subsidized maize flour, drastically reducing the prices. The Government of Kenya on Tuesday introduced a branded 2kg pack of Unga that will go for Sh90 while the 1kg packs for Sh47.

According to Agriculture CS Willy Bett, the government resolved the move after sourcing the maize and selling it to millers at an average cost of Sh2,300 per 90kg bag. "As a result a 2kg packet of maize flour will retail at Sh90. This is will be effected from tomorrow (Wednesday)," he said, noting rapid measures were being taken to end the shortage.

"This is just a temporary intervention until the product stabilizes and stocks normalize. [It will last until the rain harvest after the long rains]," said Bett.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is scheduled to make a major announcement on the maize crisis this week after he arrives from China.

The president said that the government was committed to ensuring the high prices for the Unga are reduced to make them affordable to Kenyans.

The move comes just days after the government reportedly imported 29,900 tonnes of white maize from Mexico which was transshipped through South Africa.

The high prices of Unga had a heated political debate between the opposition and the government, with the opposition starting the ‘Unga revolution’ to discredit the Jubilee administration.